“SPECIALS/ REBATEllman’s Appliances

Cash for refrigerators?... Yes, that's right, along with washing machines, dishwashers and other houshold appliances. Starting in  early 2010, you could get a rebate of $50 to $200 for buying a new, more energy-efficient appliance!

Part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), a stimulus bill passed in February, "Cash for Appliances" has set aside $300 million to encourage consumers to purchase large appliances with the help of rebates. The DOE has set a deadline of October 15 for each state to file a formal application to participate in the program, which would provide rebates of between $50 and $200 for appliances that feature the ENERGY STAR rating. However, unlike ""Cash for Clunkers", consumers are not required to trade in their old appliances. Each state will be able to establish its own rules for distributing the money, which the DOE expects to be done by end of 2009..

The federal government has set aside $300 million for the program as part of the economic stimulus plan.The details of the program are still being worked out, and they will vary from state to state. State governments have until Oct. 15 to send detailed plans to Washington.

There's no trade-in required, as in the government's "Cash for Clunkers" deal for cars and trucks. But rebate checks will be issued that can be used to cover everything from refrigerators and dishwashers to furnaces and air conditioners. About 55 percent of new appliances sold last year met the requirements for an Energy Star label, the government says. The cash-for-refrigerators plan will be in addition to incentive programs already run by many states, although there's no guarantee the federal money will get people to buy new appliances instead of fixing their old ones when money is tight.

The rebates will be good on appliances that carry an Energy Star rating, including: central air conditioners, heat pumps, boilers, furnaces, room air conditioners, clothes washers, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators and water heaters. The federal government developed Energy Star to certify and label products meeting certain energy-efficiency criteria.

“Appliances consume a huge amount of our electricity, so there’s enormous potential to both save energy and save families money every month,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu, in a statement released when the program was announced in July. Replacing an 8-year-old clothes washer with a new one saves $78 in electricity a year, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.

Special Offers and Rebates from ENERGY STAR Partners:

To encourage customers to buy energy efficient products, ENERGY STAR partners occasionally sponsor special offers, such as sales tax exemptions or credits, or rebates on qualified products. Partners also occasionally sponsor recycling incentives for the proper disposal of old products. Contact Millman's for details.